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Pregnant teen beaten, burned, held for nine days, police say

A pregnant woman was allegedly beaten and held captive for nine days in a bizarre ordeal that ended when police in the Central Valley town of Ceres arrested her boyfriend and two other men Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was treated at a hospital for bruises and burns from a cigarette lighter.

The victim's boyfriend, 21-year-old Richard Garibay, found a message on the woman’s phone on Jan. 27 that he didn't like, according to Ceres police. Garibay allegedly beat the woman and threatened to kill her with a handgun.

According to a release from Ceres police, one of Garibay’s friends came into the room and discussed with Garibay how to get rid of the victim’s body. They allegedly bound the woman, tried to strangle her and continued to beat her and threatened to kill her and her family.

Garibay is suspected of being on methamphetamine during the attack, police said.

The victim was finally allowed to leave the house on Feb. 4 because some of her visible injuries had healed, police said. That day, the victim’s family took her to the hospital and police were notified.

Police got a search warrant and Garibay was arrested Feb. 7 while at court for a different matter. Garibay is charged with spousal abuse, false imprisonment and making terrorist threats.